News and Thoughts on Family Law Issues in Georgia: Divorce, Collaborative Divorce, Alimony and Spousal Support, Child Support, Child Custody, Visitation, Property Division, Adoption, Paternity, Legitimation, Grandparent's and Third Party Custody and Visitation Rights, Family Violence Protective Orders, Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements and More; by Marietta and Atlanta Divorce and Family Law Attorney Stephen M. Worrall

July 19, 2011

Everyone has a part to play in ending domestic violence

The following article, written by Edward Lindsey and Chuck Spahos, appeared in the AJC this week:

Georgia’s judges, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, advocates and criminal justice officials are as committed, well trained and caring as any in the nation, and Georgia has many excellent family violence laws on the books. Georgia should be a very safe place for women, children and men. And yet, Georgia has lost 12 lives to domestic violence in less than two weeks.

LaGrange, Augusta, Columbus, Canton, Buford, Sandy Springs, Smyrna. In the last two weeks, fathers and present and former husbands and boyfriends have allegedly killed their partners or ex-partners, children and sometimes themselves in these cities; this is unacceptable. Violence against women is a widespread societal disease in our nation and our state. Enough.

We should all be troubled opening up the newspaper to a familiar story — a woman trying to leave an abusive relationship, murdered. She may have left the house, filed for a protective order, started a new relationship, started living her life free of fear, filed for a divorce or called the police. The circumstances vary, but these murders follow a pattern. Generally, the man she once trusted to come into her life becomes increasingly possessive, controlling and threatening. He may have isolated her from her family and friends, caused her to lose her job, or questioned every decision she made. He most likely has physically hurt her or even threatened her life, her family’s lives or his own with a gun or other means.

We have long focused on providing women shelter and giving them access to services. These are vital, lifesaving projects, and we encourage anyone who is experiencing abuse to call the statewide hotline — 1-800-334-2836 (1-800-33-HAVEN). However, more is needed on the personal front to stand up and refuse to accept this widespread epidemic.

First, we can lead by example through healthy relationships and model this to our children and our communities. Second, we must speak up. It is our personal responsibility to step back and think about our role in ending domestic violence — how we can engage with men and boys to talk, really talk, about ending abuse.

Domestic violence is the systematic use of abusive tactics to compel submission of one person to another in an intimate relationship. Waiting until the physical violence erupts may be too late. When we suspect that something isn’t right in a friend or family’s relationship, we must act early. We need to say that their controlling behavior will drive their family away from them; their children may fear them; and their abuse may land them in jail. We have to challenge the notion that a girlfriend or wife “made me do it.” We must also tell them there is another way — they can change.

Family violence is not a women’s issue. It is a human issue, and we all need to stand together against it. You can contact organizations like the Georgia Commission on Family Violence to get involved with other men in your community. And you can begin the conversations in your life — at work, in your faith community, with your neighbors and at home. We pledge to have these conversations in our own lives. We pledge to do our part to stop the domestic violence and killing of women in Georgia.

State Rep. Edward Lindsey, R-Atlanta, is majority whip in the Georgia House and on the executive committee of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence.

Chuck Spahos is solicitor general of Henry County and the commission’s legislative chairman.

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This blog is written and published by Stephen M. Worrall for educational purposes only, i.e. to give information and a general understanding of Georgia family law, not to provide specific legal advice. The information provided by this blog should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed attorney in your state. Steve Worrall is licensed to practice law in the state of Georgia only.

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Some material contained in this blog is general in nature and may not reflect the current laws of the State of Georgia. The author of this blog does not necessarily support the views expressed in all articles contained herein and cannot guarantee their accuracy.

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Georgia Cities and Counties in Which We Practice

We do take and have handled cases in counties throughout the State of Georgia, but these are the ones in which we handle the majority of our cases.

Bartow County, GAIncludes the cities of Cartersville, Emerson, Euharlee, Kingston, and White

Cherokee County, GA Includes the cities of Ball Ground, Canton, Holly Springs, Waleska, and Woodstock

Cobb County, GAIncludes the cities of Acworth, Austell, Kennesaw, Marietta, Powder Springs and Smyrna and the communities of Mableton, Vinings, Fair Oaks, Cumberland, Town Center, East Cobb, West Cobb, North Cobb, and South Cobb

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What Others Are Saying About Our Blogs

ABA Section of Family Law: Tech CornerFamily Law practitioner and ABA Family Law Section member Stephen M. Worrall refers to Microsoft Office OneNote as The Ideal Note-Taking Tool for Today's Lawyer in his TabletPCLawyer blog.

California Divorce Blawg: Georgia Family Law BlogStephen M. Worrall and Melissa A Mullin, are in charge at the Law Firm of Mullin & Worrall in Marietta, Georgia. In addition Worrall produces the Georgia Family Law Blog, which is a great resource for those with Georgia divorce on ther minds. For those of your who have seen me in court, visited my office, of sat in on one of my speaking presentations, you are aware of the fact that I am a big proponent of tablet pc's, and I use mind all the time. If Stephen Worrall wasn't busy enough and maintaining his Georgia blog, he also produces the Tablet PC Lawyer Blog, which I frequently visit. Take a look at both of his blogs when you can.

Divorce Law Journal: Blawg Review #101Gaining ground in my corner of the blawgosphere are divorce and family law bloggers . . . Stephen Worrall of Georgia Family Law Blog with Helping Georgia’s juvenile code grow up.

Indiana Family Law Blog: How to stay happily marriedBy way of Georgia’s most active family law blogger, we have a link to a free podcast (aka audio file to listen to on your computer or mp3 player) featuring ten marriage counselors each offering a tip on how to keep a marriage happy.

Indiana Family Law Blog: More good planning ideasThe Georgia Family Law Blog has another dose of good advice for people contemplating divorce. What I particularly like about this post is that it’s not adversarial. It’s practical and looks toward the future.

Inter Alia: Blawg of the DaySteve Worrall is a lawyer with the firm of Mullin and Worrall in Marietta, Georgia. His Georgia Family Law Blog provides "news and thoughts on family law issues in Georgia: divorce, alimony, child support, child custody, visitation, property division, adoption and more."

P.I.S.S.D.: Link of the Day - Georgia Family Law BlogMarietta, Georgia attorney Stephen M. Worrall writes the Georgia Family Law blog in addition to maintaining a Web site on Georgia Family Law....
Attorney Worrall also publishes the Georgia Wills and Probate blog.... And now, late breaking news: Steve has just started a new blog about tablet computers.

Sam Hasler's Indiana Divorce & Family Law Blog: My Roundup of Law Blogs Part 3 Georgia Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements Blog: "News and Thoughts on Prenuptial Agreements, Postnuptial Agreements and Reconciliation Agreements in Georgia." From Stephen Worrall who also publishes Georgia Family Law Blog. Fairly new, well-written. Combine this with #14 if you leave here wanting more information on pre-nuptial agreements.

UPDATES IN MICHIGAN FAMILY LAW: Electronic evidence used more frequentlySteve Worrall, author of the outstanding Georgia Family Law Blog, has written many posts recently about the increasing frequency with which electronic evidence is being sought and used in court proceedings. A recent blog article entitled Law evolving as divorces drag in electronic evidence, is well worth the time to read, whether you're a family law subscriber to this Blog or a layperson involved in a pending divorce.

VA Family Law Blog: Abuse Warning SignsTake a moment and look at this important post from the Georgia Family Law Blog because it wisely points out that before abuse becomes domestic violence, there are warning signs. These signs may be happening in the life of someone you love or work with. The blog post was spawned by one of the too-numerous instances of death-by-spouse which happen in the U.S. each year.